Head of Kashmir’s disaster management cell Amir Ali informed that a 'medium danger' avalanche warning has been issued on the basis of information from the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment.

"People living in snow bound areas of Naugam, Chowkibal, Machil, Tangdhar, Keran and Gurez (frontier areas of north Kashmir) have been advised not to venture in steep avalanche prone slopes during the next 24 hours," Ali said.

"It has started to snow heavily, so we have asked drivers to return back from Jawahar Tunnel (the gateway to Kashmir)," said an official at the traffic control room on Thursday evening.

The administration has officially announced closure of highway after Met officials warned of heavy snowfall and rain on January 17 and 18.

"The highway will remain closed tomorrow (Friday) as well, if the weather does not improve," the traffic official said.

An official spokesman requested commuters who intend to travel from Jammu to Srinagar, to ascertain the status of the highway from the Traffic Police Control Room.

"The Traffic department has appealed to people not to undertake the journey unless getting confirmation from the Traffic Control room to avoid any inconvenience on the way (sic)," the spokesman said.